Vista Business OEM + SP1 -> Ultimate via retail CD upgrade?

[Dick Watson]

I have a Sony notebook that came with Vista Business OEM from Sony. I have
upgraded it to SP1 and have added various updates since then.

I have a retail Vista Ultimate license/DVDs and a retail Vista Ultimate +
SP1 license/DVDs.

What's the least problematic way to take what I have and end up with the
Sony notebook running Vista Ultimate SP1? Is it even worth it?

Considerations:

I don't want to do the Anytime Upgrade since the full retail licenses I have
are already paid for.

I'm a little leery because so much of the stuff Sony installs seems very
fragile. (For instance, I don't want the TPM code tipping over.) I'm also
really leery about uninstalling SP1, in part for the same reasons plus there
have been many updates and changes since then.

I had mentally reserved the SP1 license for the next desktop I build
(Nehalem/Bloomfield X58?) and had hoped to use the slipstreamed DVD to avoid
having to build that one and then immediately go install SP1. OTOH, if there
is a way to get a pair of unkeyed Vista+SP1 edition DVDs as replacement or
SP media--that I can use with my pre-SP1 retail key--I would consider that.

 

[Dick Watson]

One more potentially ignorant question: can I install the upgrade from the
SP1 media and use the pre-SP1 license's key?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

One more potentially ignorant question: can I install the upgrade from the
SP1 media and use the pre-SP1 license's key?

Yes. Service packs have no impact on product keys.

 

[Dick Watson]

Indeed, this approach does seem to be working. We'll see shortly how much of
the Sony-ware breaks with the upgrade. It's at 45% completing upgrade...

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I have a Sony notebook that came with Vista Business OEM from Sony. I have
upgraded it to SP1 and have added various updates since then.

I have a retail Vista Ultimate license/DVDs and a retail Vista Ultimate +
SP1 license/DVDs.

What's the least problematic way to take what I have and end up with the
Sony notebook running Vista Ultimate SP1? Is it even worth it?

Considerations:

I don't want to do the Anytime Upgrade since the full retail licenses I
have are already paid for.

I'm a little leery because so much of the stuff Sony installs seems very
fragile. (For instance, I don't want the TPM code tipping over.) I'm also
really leery about uninstalling SP1, in part for the same reasons plus
there have been many updates and changes since then.

I had mentally reserved the SP1 license for the next desktop I build
(Nehalem/Bloomfield X58?) and had hoped to use the slipstreamed DVD to
avoid having to build that one and then immediately go install SP1. OTOH,
if there is a way to get a pair of unkeyed Vista+SP1 edition DVDs as
replacement or SP media--that I can use with my pre-SP1 retail key--I
would consider that.

Because you installed SP1 after you bought the Sony, you can uninstall SP1
and then use the "retail Vista Ultimate license/DVDs". If the Sony had come
with an SP1 version preinstalled you would not be able to uninstall SP1 and
would have to use the "retail Vista Ultimate + SP1 license/DVDs".

Uninstalling SP1 is straightforward, but make a complete backup of the drive
with a program like Acronis True Image in case the uninstall goes wrong.

To uninstall SP1, navigate to Control Panel/Programs/Uninstall a Program.
Click the link in the left pane to View Installed Updates. Scroll the list
window until you see Service Pack for Microsoft Windows and highlight it.
Click the Uninstall button at the top of the window.

After the uninstall is completed make an image backup with a program like
Acronis True Image so that if your worst fears regarding the Sony software
being affected by the Ultimate upgrade come true can get back to where they
work.

The upgrade install option will be enabled when you start the Ultimate Setup
from the Business desktop. Make sure you uncheck the "automatically
activate the next time I am on the internet." Give yourself many days to
make sure you have a solid upgrade. You can still accept the updates from
Windows Update, including a new SP1, before you activate.

 

[Dick Watson]

I used the SP1 CD rather than going the uninstall SP1 route. The
post-upgrade cleanup took quite some time. Audio was completely
broken--reinstalling the originally supplied Sigmatel HD OEM driver seems to
have solved that. The "hybrid" graphics ("integrated" Intel and Nvidia Go)
was very confused but it sorted itself out after several reboots in each
mode. One of the WinUpdate patches (KB947652) wouldn't install until I
downloaded the file straight from the MSKB. There were several other nits,
but I forget what all they were now. I had the whole thing backed up on my
WHS before I went down this route.

I let it activate. I hope I don't come to regret that.

Thanks for the post!

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I used the SP1 CD rather than going the uninstall SP1 route. The
post-upgrade cleanup took quite some time. Audio was completely
broken--reinstalling the originally supplied Sigmatel HD OEM driver seems
to have solved that. The "hybrid" graphics ("integrated" Intel and Nvidia
Go) was very confused but it sorted itself out after several reboots in
each mode. One of the WinUpdate patches (KB947652) wouldn't install until I
downloaded the file straight from the MSKB. There were several other nits,
but I forget what all they were now. I had the whole thing backed up on my
WHS before I went down this route.

I let it activate. I hope I don't come to regret that.

Thanks for the post!

You're welcome.